TV Licence article Discussion

Cornucopia

DavidP24 wrote: »

TV advertising adds billions to cost of products across the country.

Given the prevalence of commercial media across the World and throughout recent human history, do you not think that there would be plentiful referenceable evidence of this... if it were true?

Do you really believe that a bottle of liquid clothes detergent costing £8 to £12 is reasonable when in ALDI you can get it for under £3.

I doubt that the price difference is that much. However, this argument is fundamentally flawed, anyway, for the following reasons:-

a) Aldi and Lidl advertise. So the cost of £3 includes the cost of advertising.

b) There are only two possibilities: either the Aldi/Lidl products are identical to the main brand ones, in which case why isn't everyone buying them, OR the products are not identical, but are "good enough" for their pricepoint and offer fair value for money. The former implies consumers are stupid, but have it within their own control to circumvent the alleged take of advertising cost, the latter is more likely to be the truth, and reflects a reasonably balanced market operating to serve consumers.

Do you think that Finish dishwasher tablets are worth their price?

I'm not sure what you're getting at with these references to premium cleaning brands. If you don't like the price, smell, performance, colour of the tablets, colour of the box, name, taste, ingredients, aura, environmental impact, or, yes, the alleged advertising cost of Finish then don't buy it. Buy something else, or wash your dishes in a stream. The idea that people are locked into paying the cost of commercial media because they are locked into buying a premium product is nonsense, and is not even reflected by the obvious diversity of the market.

wymondham

its all a bit crazy isn't it and from times gone by..... its only continuing because nobody has the balls to make the inevitable decision to scrap the fee...

How can the model work in the digital age?

its like having to pay Ford a fee because you have a driving license and could potentially drive a Ford, even if you don't! Can you imagine anyone putting up with that?!!

Zapito

Sam52 wrote: »

Hi all

Do you need a license if you only watch on +1

Yes. You need a licence to watch any TV as it is broadcast.

Cornucopia

HappyMJ wrote: »

What if a 50 minute program is available online 10 minutes after being shown on the normal channel and you start watching it online at the exact same time that it's also being broadcast on a +1 channel?

TVL have stated that a 2 hour gap is a useful measure of whether something is "catchup-y" enough.

I haven't asked them about online premiers, because I thought it might make their heads explode.

enfield_freddy

wymondham wrote: »

its all a bit crazy isn't it and from times gone by..... its only continuing because nobody has the balls to make the inevitable decision to scrap the fee...

How can the model work in the digital age?

its like having to pay Ford a fee because you have a driving license and could potentially drive a Ford, even if you don't! Can you imagine anyone putting up with that?!!

correct !! how many people have jumped ship from the BBC and gone to sky/virgin etc , because the TV output is far superior ,


its a joke , if you change your car , your phone provider or your internet provider , you do not end up paying twice!


maybe , as in phone providers (BT line) , virgin/sky etc should pay the BBC a royalty , for permission to transmit , this would not be allowed to be passed on to the end user

Zapito

wymondham wrote: »

its all a bit crazy isn't it and from times gone by..... its only continuing because nobody has the balls to make the inevitable decision to scrap the fee...

How can the model work in the digital age?

its like having to pay Ford a fee because you have a driving license and could potentially drive a Ford, even if you don't! Can you imagine anyone putting up with that?!!

It works fine.
Roads are paid for from taxes paid by everyone, including non drivers. Also schools are paid by everyone including non-parents. Weighed against those and the like, the licence is probably one of the fairest of all general charges, because at least the money goes towards the purpose for which it is raised.

enfield_freddy

Cornucopia wrote: »

TVL have stated that a 2 hour gap is a useful measure of whether something is "catchup-y" enough.

I haven't asked them about online premiers, because I thought it might make their heads explode.

that figure changes , by who says it


in reality , the figure is one nano second after the show finishes , it is no longer being broadcast "live"

enfield_freddy

Zapito wrote: »

It works fine.
Roads are paid for from taxes paid by everyone, including non drivers. Also schools are paid by everyone including non-parents. Weighed against those and the like, the licence is probably one of the fairest of all general charges, because at least the money goes towards what it is raised for.

yup rent a "Saville"

Smiler001

Cancelled TV licence last year as I had not watched live TV since the wedding of William and Kate - honestly! Took ages for TVL to sort this out, Still waiting for refund. Then got email January saying my licence had expired and I needed to get another, Sent various emails and finally got it sorted. Then 3 weeks ago had a visit from an enquiry officer. He did not believe I did not watch live TV, and demanded to see TV working. I switched it on and and gave him the remote control. After he couldn;t get any channels up I said "Now do you believe I dont watch live TV, theres no aerial!" Exit one sheepish enqiury officer, with a promise that I will not be bothered for 2 years. Watch this space!

Cornucopia

Zapito wrote: »

Those people who say they only use catchup should still be required to pay licence because they are taking advantage of the services provided.

I can see the logic of that for iPlayer, and am happy for the BBC to lock it down to a licence, and/or have a separate charge as they see fit. I don't see how yourcomment applies to non-BBCservices.

The fact is that as long as the Licence exists there will be a need to determine what it covers.